PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harley Bailey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bailey is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Grim Reaper Song. Harley Bailey has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mike Matthews's chin.

Matthews
vs
Bailey

205 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harley Bailey!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Matthews lands.
Decent striking displayed by Matthews there.
Matthews really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Bailey instigates a clinch.

Bailey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bailey gets a clinch.
Bailey misses with a knee strike.
Matthews takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Mike Matthews has been cut.
Bailey jumps guard but Matthews turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bailey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Matthews has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bailey is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bailey.
Matthews avoiding damage as Bailey throws knees to the body.
Our sources have told us that Matthews has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Bailey creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Matthews's defenses.

Matthews jumps guard and drags Bailey to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bailey throws a big elbow that misses.
Matthews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bailey throws an elbow that misses. Matthews uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bailey's guard. Nice move by Matthews!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bailey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matthews controls the pace.
Matthews won't allow Bailey to sweep him here.
Bailey trying to keep a closed guard but Matthews is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matthews accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bailey is proving hard to escape from.
Matthews stops Bailey from standing up.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Bailey keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bailey is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Matthews defends well.
Matthews postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bailey can do anything to dispel that myth.
Matthews tries to free his leg and advance position but Bailey is retaining full guard.
Matthews throwing strikes from guard but Bailey blocks nicely.
Bailey really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matthews. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Matthews stays in close to Bailey's body and controls the position.
Bailey has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Matthews tries to bum rush Bailey with a series of wild strikes but Bailey uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bailey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bailey wants it to stay on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Matthews. Those never looked like landing.
Matthews goes for a double leg but Bailey avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bailey continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bailey lands an elbow inside that Matthews shrugs off.
Matthews is trying to maintain a safe position but Bailey gets an underhook and turns Matthews into the cage.
Matthews wants to break free but Bailey has control.
Bailey lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to break free.

Bailey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matthews throws a leg kick

and Bailey counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bailey lands a shot to the body.
Bailey is struggling to control the position.
Bailey working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bailey has Matthews pressed against the cage.
Bailey lands a damaging elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A bit of stalling here from Bailey.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews wants to break the clinch but can't.
Matthews takes an elbow to the forehead.

Matthews is rocked!

Mike Matthews's cut is getting worse.
Nice elbow from Bailey.
Oh Matthews is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bailey pulls back and lands a big elbow that stuns Matthews! Bailey unloads with more strikes and Matthews sinks to his knees! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Harley Bailey!
Harley Bailey made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I'm just happy to avenge that earlier loss. He is a great fighter. Maybe we can do it again next time.'.
Mike Matthews was interviewed post fight and said 'I will take alot from this loss, but a rematch is on the cards, maybe next time he wont be so lucky'.